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ČR-U.S. scientists solidify relations

Collaboration increases appeal of radar base deal for local leaders

By Markéta Hulpachová
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
April 2nd, 2008 issue

Local scientists are moving toward closer collaboration with U.S. institutions as the Czech government nears a bilateral agreement allowing the United States to erect a radar base here as part of a Central European missile-defense shield.
Described by Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek as one of the incentives behind hosting the radar base, the cooperation would mean more U.S. funding and collaborative resources for local researchers, ultimately raising the Czech Republic’s profile as a world leader in technological development.
Focusing on top local research in fields including nanotechnology, IT and cybernetics, local and U.S. scientists are now reviewing Czech research projects to pinpoint viable candidates for collaboration with leading U.S. research institutions.
“Both the U.S. side and the Czech government agree that if the radar happens, it would be good to offer strong support for local research and development,” said Vladimír Mařík, head of the cybernetics department at the Czech Institute of Technology.
Following a preliminary agreement between the Czech government and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, Mařík was put in charge of compiling a report identifying the most promising candidates for developmental aid.
“As we look through all these different projects, we’re amazed at all the things Czech scientists have to offer,” he said. “The ideas for innovation are almost boundless — from laser to microscopes, from cybernetics to medicine.”
According to a March 30 article in Hospodářské noviny, the United States is mainly targeting researchers capable of contributing to the fight against terrorism.
“The Americans … want to cooperate in the field of security and data transfer,” Václav Přenosil from the Department of Information Technologies at Masaryk University in Brno told the paper, adding that the university offers the Americans a security system protecting computers against hackers and terrorist groups.
However, Mařík stressed the collaboration does not mean Czech scientists are “selling out” to the Pentagon. Rather than buying research projects for specific use, the United States plans to “inject funds” into promising projects. “We want to create a sort of innovative undergrowth here and allow the top research fields to get more than just broad funding from the Czech government,” said Mařík. “This could lead to the development of something the Americans can use.”

Markéta Hulpachová can be reached at mhulpachova@praguepost.com


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